Patriot Act Investigation to Look at Prison Officer Mistreatment

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By Reuters

Published: 07/23/2003

The U.S. Justice Department's inspector general said on Monday he had opened six investigations into alleged civil rights abuses, including prison officer mistreatment of Muslim inmates, in reviewing an anti-terror law adopted after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Inspector General Glenn Fine said in a biannual report to the U.S. Congress on alleged civil liberties abuses by Justice Department employees that 272 complaints that fall within his jurisdiction were received from mid-December through mid-June.
The complaints included allegations of excessive force by federal correctional officers, verbal abuse by prison staff, rude treatment by immigration inspectors, unwarranted cell searches by prison officers and illegal searches of personal residences and property by FBI agents, he said.
Fine has been conducting investigations into alleged abuses arising from the government's anti-terror policies adopted after the Sept. 11, 2001, hijacked plane attacks on the United States.
Last month, he said foreigners detained as part of the probe were held too long without being told of charges against them and were subjected to unduly harsh conditions. There were 762 foreigners detained in the United States for immigration violations during the investigation.
His report was the third since the enactment of the Patriot Act, adopted after the 2001 attacks, which gave the government broad new powers to fight terrorism.
Of the 272 complaints, Fine said 34 stated a credible claim and 28 were referred to internal affairs offices within Justice Department agencies for review.
Of the six investigations opened, Fine said one involved allegations that a correctional officer verbally abused a Muslim inmate and ordered him to remove his shirt so the officer could shine his shoes with it.
In another case, an Egyptian national claimed the FBI improperly arrested him and he was forced to submit to multiple body cavity searches, denied access to counsel and the Egyptian consulate, and was not allowed to practice his religion.
Another complaint involved whether FBI agents illegally searched an Arab-American's apartment and vandalized it, stole items and called the person a terrorist.
During the same six-month period Fine said his office closed three investigations and continued eight others.

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